I feel this game needs a decent amount of build up time. I can't wait for this showdown. It's a must win if we want to conquer the Conference (and possibly avoid a tricky Orlando in the second round) if would be even sweeter if Boston waited until this date to have their current winning streak snapped like a twig.

"There is but one thing of real value: to cultivate truth and justice and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men"

I'm excited but not as optimistic as you guys. For as good as the Cavs have looked, the Celtics have matched us step for step and looked even better. This will be an epic showdown...funny how Lakers v Boston gets all the hype, when we all know the Celtics will stomp all over the Lakeshow.

Coming from a Wolverine, we're the football equivalent of a formerly abused wife of a meth addict who just remarried the safe nice guy. We're just glad we have someone who's aware that it's a rivalry and that tackling on defense is integral. Baby steps.

Look, Cleveland beat this team last year without half the firepower they have this year. Cleveland is better across the board this year, with improvement at every single position. It took a complete meltdown for Boston to beat us in the first game this year.

I'm confident the Cavs can run with these guys on any given night. We will defend home court.

Check me out at Dawgsbynature, where I write stuff, or @twitter as Josh Finney.

Still I want Game 7 in Cleveland this year and this is one game that allows us an opportunity to make that hope become reality.

Playing here is the closest thing to heaven. Really, I mean it's amazing to be in a place where the fans truly cherish their football team and stick behind them win or lose. We players love them, too. I feel a sense of accomplishment playing here, we are a special breed of football players with a great opportunity." ~ tOSU LB Brian Rolle

British_Pharaoh wrote:I feel this game needs a decent amount of build up time. I can't wait for this showdown. It's a must win if we want to conquer the Conference (and possibly avoid a tricky Orlando in the second round) if would be even sweeter if Boston waited until this date to have their current winning streak snapped like a twig.

The ironic beauty of that photo is that last season those where the best 5 players between the two separate rosters, and yet it went to game 7.

Damn they had to have the Green Kryptonite.

Criminals in this town used to believe in things...honor, respect."I heard your dog is sick, so bought you this shovel"

Gradysmanldy wrote:Look, Cleveland beat this team last year without half the firepower they have this year. Cleveland is better across the board this year, with improvement at every single position. It took a complete meltdown for Boston to beat us in the first game this year.

I'm confident the Cavs can run with these guys on any given night. We will defend home court.

I agree, we can defend home court...my queston is can we play Road Warrior for ONE game.

Gradysmanldy wrote:Look, Cleveland beat this team last year without half the firepower they have this year. Cleveland is better across the board this year, with improvement at every single position. It took a complete meltdown for Boston to beat us in the first game this year.

I'm confident the Cavs can run with these guys on any given night. We will defend home court.

I agree, we can defend home court...my queston is can we play Road Warrior for ONE game.

All I know is this.

We were a much worse team last year.

Bron shot like crap from the floor ( Hnat and Doug melting down in 3...2...1.... )

Gradysmanldy wrote:Look, Cleveland beat this team last year without half the firepower they have this year. Cleveland is better across the board this year, with improvement at every single position. It took a complete meltdown for Boston to beat us in the first game this year.

I'm confident the Cavs can run with these guys on any given night. We will defend home court.

I agree, we can defend home court...my queston is can we play Road Warrior for ONE game.

All I know is this.

We were a much worse team last year.

Bron shot like crap from the floor ( Hnat and Doug melting down in 3...2...1.... )

Bron shot like crap from the floor ( Hnat and Doug melting down in 3...2...1.... )

And we STILL should have had them.

You're right, I should melt down, as this is basically copy-and-pasting a take I've made several times. Maybe I should put it in street-poseur English-as-a-second-language and submit it as a front page article under a pseudonym (say, something cobbled together from the names of a couple of Ohio cities)?

Really, enough with the shots at me, and enough with putting words in my mouth that you know I never said.

If it flies, floats, or fornicates, always rent it -- it's cheaper in the long run.

Gradysmanldy wrote:Look, Cleveland beat this team last year without half the firepower they have this year. Cleveland is better across the board this year, with improvement at every single position. It took a complete meltdown for Boston to beat us in the first game this year.

I'm confident the Cavs can run with these guys on any given night. We will defend home court.

I agree, we can defend home court...my queston is can we play Road Warrior for ONE game.

All I know is this.

We were a much worse team last year.

Bron shot like crap from the floor ( Hnat and Doug melting down in 3...2...1.... )

And we STILL should have had them.

They sure look much better than they were too, though.

Not too much really, I mean they were 26-4 last year at this same point?

They are who we thought they were I guess.

Criminals in this town used to believe in things...honor, respect."I heard your dog is sick, so bought you this shovel"

Everywhere I look the headlines have been talking about Boston Boston Boston. Has the media not noticed that the cavs are right behind them and are off to an historic start of their own? This has been so fun to watch. I cant wait til this game. I hope we crush them!!

Peeker643 wrote:Jesus. This is a regular season game in January right?

No wonder so many here are ready to tie a rock around their leg and throw it over a bridge whenever this team loses a game.

Check yourselves.

someone hates the festive period

Bahh...not true.

They call me Cap'n Christmas around these parts.

But you'll have to admit moderating emotions is not a strength on the boards. Hedge your bets BP. Jan 9th is neither a harbinger of doom or a precursor to a parade regardless of the result. Just hopefully a good basketball game that the guys in Wine & Gold take down.

Peeker643 wrote:Jesus. This is a regular season game in January right?

No wonder so many here are ready to tie a rock around their leg and throw it over a bridge whenever this team loses a game.

Check yourselves.

someone hates the festive period

Bahh...not true.

They call me Cap'n Christmas around these parts.

But you'll have to admit moderating emotions is not a strength on the boards. Hedge your bets BP. Jan 9th is neither a harbinger of doom or a precursor to a parade regardless of the result. Just hopefully a good basketball game that the guys in Wine & Gold take down.

But it's an important game in the decision of who finishes atop the Eastern Conference I feel your downplay of this game is ill-advised

"There is but one thing of real value: to cultivate truth and justice and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men"

Peeker643 wrote:Jesus. This is a regular season game in January right?

No wonder so many here are ready to tie a rock around their leg and throw it over a bridge whenever this team loses a game.

Check yourselves.

someone hates the festive period

Bahh...not true.

They call me Cap'n Christmas around these parts.

But you'll have to admit moderating emotions is not a strength on the boards. Hedge your bets BP. Jan 9th is neither a harbinger of doom or a precursor to a parade regardless of the result. Just hopefully a good basketball game that the guys in Wine & Gold take down.

So this game will be equally intense and exciting as the recent games against the Thunder and the T'Wolves? Or not, since they were in December? This game, by no means, will decide our June fate but considering home-field for the playoffs may be on the line (14-0 at home), this game is pretty damn important. Not saying we can't win on the road but... 14-0.

Peeker643 wrote:Jesus. This is a regular season game in January right?

No wonder so many here are ready to tie a rock around their leg and throw it over a bridge whenever this team loses a game.

Check yourselves.

someone hates the festive period

Bahh...not true.

They call me Cap'n Christmas around these parts.

But you'll have to admit moderating emotions is not a strength on the boards. Hedge your bets BP. Jan 9th is neither a harbinger of doom or a precursor to a parade regardless of the result. Just hopefully a good basketball game that the guys in Wine & Gold take down.

But it's an important game in the decision of who finishes atop the Eastern Conference I feel your downplay of this game is ill-advised

It might be. If KG and Pierce collide and suffer fractured skulls in the locker room after beating the Cavs that night I'd advise the loss the Cavs had just sustained was not all that important.

Is that over-exaggerating? Yes. But you get the point. They'll probably make either team finish out the regular season schedule afterward and they'll still have two games remaining with each other down the road.

But okay, for the sake of the holiday season, the thread and the Cavs season, this game is critical. It will give us an ndication of just where the Cavs rank on the ladder of the NBA elite and will define their season one way or another. One must pray the Cavs aren't trapped into looking ahead to the Memphis game on Jan 13th.

Peeker643 wrote:Jesus. This is a regular season game in January right?

No wonder so many here are ready to tie a rock around their leg and throw it over a bridge whenever this team loses a game.

Check yourselves.

someone hates the festive period

Bahh...not true.

They call me Cap'n Christmas around these parts.

But you'll have to admit moderating emotions is not a strength on the boards. Hedge your bets BP. Jan 9th is neither a harbinger of doom or a precursor to a parade regardless of the result. Just hopefully a good basketball game that the guys in Wine & Gold take down.

So this game will be equally intense and exciting as the recent games against the Thunder and the T'Wolves? Or not, since they were in December? This game, by no means, will decide our June fate but considering home-field for the playoffs may be on the line (14-0 at home), this game is pretty damn important. Not saying we can't win on the road but... 14-0.

I'm not sure anyone can speak to how intense or exciting it will be Rebel. I'm saying it will count the same in the standings as the Thunder and T'Wolves did the day after it's played. Especially with two more coming. And I'm saying almost exactly what you did in that it won't alone decide the June fate.

there's still a lot of basketball to be played between now and january 9th, so to talk about it now is grossly premature. to be honest, i wouldn't be surprised to see the lakers beat boston on christmas day. i know it's cliche' and hackneyed, but i really like the "take it one game at a time" approach for the cavs. it's what has led to 24 wins in 28 games so far, so why start muddying up the water now talking about a game that is still a few weeks away???

davemanddd wrote:there's still a lot of basketball to be played between now and january 9th, so to talk about it now is grossly premature. to be honest, i wouldn't be surprised to see the lakers beat boston on christmas day. i know it's cliche' and hackneyed, but i really like the "take it one game at a time" approach for the cavs. it's what has led to 24 wins in 28 games so far, so why start muddying up the water now talking about a game that is still a few weeks away???

cos the next 6 games are a foregone conclusion

"There is but one thing of real value: to cultivate truth and justice and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men"

davemanddd wrote:there's still a lot of basketball to be played between now and january 9th, so to talk about it now is grossly premature. to be honest, i wouldn't be surprised to see the lakers beat boston on christmas day. i know it's cliche' and hackneyed, but i really like the "take it one game at a time" approach for the cavs. it's what has led to 24 wins in 28 games so far, so why start muddying up the water now talking about a game that is still a few weeks away???

cos the next 6 games are a foregone conclusion

Sounds like 6 huge trap games to me.

All critical. All meaningful. Especially if the Cavs lose all 6 and beat the C's. Then what'll we do.

davemanddd wrote:there's still a lot of basketball to be played between now and january 9th, so to talk about it now is grossly premature. to be honest, i wouldn't be surprised to see the lakers beat boston on christmas day. i know it's cliche' and hackneyed, but i really like the "take it one game at a time" approach for the cavs. it's what has led to 24 wins in 28 games so far, so why start muddying up the water now talking about a game that is still a few weeks away???

We're not the ones playing. We can take it as many games at a time as we want. It doesn't matter.

Boston has played 4 more home games than the Cavaliers. It isn't inconceivable to think Cleveland could be 27-2 also with a few more home games than road games.

I still want to see the Celtics take this show on the road a little. I know they will beat teams on the road too but not at the pace their on now. They're a great team but this is getting a little silly. Someone punch them in the mouth already please.

God the NBA is weak this year. It's like there is Cleveland, Boston, LA and Orlando. Then a couple teams right under them and the rest of the league sucks.

"If I sell a lil' crack, aint nuthin to it, gangsta rap made me do it...

If I die in Iraq, aint nuthin to it, gangsta rap made me do it...

If I take you fo granted, aint nuthin to it, gangsta rap made me do it...

jamesownsdet wrote:Boston has played 4 more home games than the Cavaliers. It isn't inconceivable to think Cleveland could be 27-2 also with a few more home games than road games.

I still want to see the Celtics take this show on the road a little. I know they will beat teams on the road too but not at the pace their on now. They're a great team but this is getting a little silly. Someone punch them in the mouth already please.

God the NBA is weak this year. It's like there is Cleveland, Boston, LA and Orlando. Then a couple teams right under them and the rest of the league sucks.

western conference is a disgrace

all playoff teams are practically accounted for

"There is but one thing of real value: to cultivate truth and justice and to live without anger in the midst of lying and unjust men"

jamesownsdet wrote:Boston has played 4 more home games than the Cavaliers. It isn't inconceivable to think Cleveland could be 27-2 also with a few more home games than road games.

I still want to see the Celtics take this show on the road a little. I know they will beat teams on the road too but not at the pace their on now. They're a great team but this is getting a little silly. Someone punch them in the mouth already please.

God the NBA is weak this year. It's like there is Cleveland, Boston, LA and Orlando. Then a couple teams right under them and the rest of the league sucks.

western conference is a disgrace

all playoff teams are practically accounted for

yes the west is very bad this year. the only cavs loss to a western team is against new orleans on the road in the 3rd game of the year when chris paul, david west & james posey went crazy in the 4th quarter. the cavs have since gone 23-2 with both losses coming on the road as the 2nd game of a dreaded back-to-back in detroit & in atlanta, 2 playoff teams. the cavs have already swept denver who is supposed to be the top team in the northwest division and they just beat houston who is supposed to be the best team in the southwest. they also beat dallas in dallas, another playoff team, so why the cavs aren't getting any love from the national pundits is beyond me??? once again, they are being overshadowed by a team in the northeast. actually, i would much prefer that they just continue to stay under the radar and then when they waltz to the nba title, i can't wait to hear all the talking heads on espn and tnt go "wha-wha-what happened"??? no boston. no los angeles. is this the nba???

It's not just the destination, but the journey. Otherwise, why bother watching until the playoffs? Yes, this game will not define the Cavaliers' season, but if you are not seriously excited to see how the Cavaliers match up against an elite team then I don't know what to tell you.

“I don’t care what he does with the ball because I know nine times out of 10, he’s going to make the play to win the ballgame.” - Mike Brown on LeBron James

Please, one of you, do me a quick favor and scope out the teams currently qualified in the playoffs in the East behind Orlando and then look at the West.

The East is VERY top heavy, the West is absolutely a deeper conference.... I'd almost venture to say head to head the 4-8 seeds in the west sweep the East.

Christ some of you guys really enjoy the homer glasses.

And crying about ESPN.... but what is new about that?

eye, you maybe right that the west is deeper record wise or even with middle of the road teams? But the East has already proven to be the better conference when comparing the two conferences. The Eastern style of play dominates the West when each respective conference sends their best teams to the dance. I believe this conversation has taken place in here before, SA was/is the ONLY WC team that puts up or shuts up v the EC when it truly counts.

LA has a shot at possible doing so this year but they will be considered underdogs to Boston or us no doubt, and I'll go so far as to say after those 3 Orlando is the next most likely team to win the NBA's EC v WC Finals match up.

Criminals in this town used to believe in things...honor, respect."I heard your dog is sick, so bought you this shovel"

No, it isn't a disgrace. But there are a bunch of awful teams in that conference, which inflates the W/L records of the elite, and as DU said, the only Western team to actually win anything in the last five years is San Antonio.

That having been said, to get WAY ahead of ourselves, the only team out West that truly concerns me is the Spurs, or the Rockets if they can somehow get through the draw. Those are the only two Western teams I see that can actually stop us from getting what we want offensively.